I have been here for a month now and so far I have done multiple concerts, first concert was in Hiroshima the city that has a memorial center of the Atomic bomb in the world’s history, I did my first performance in Japan after visiting the memorial.
The other concerts includes The 25th anniversary of UNICEF Saga prefecture, Cobe city, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Kochi prefecture where I performed in a big conference on awareness of Africa in Japan, the recent show was at the 15th anniversary of UNICEF Fukushima,
During my tour I also visited different places including schools from primary to universities where we had an exchange on how we can use music for peace and put people together.
The audience in Japan is the best, because they have a culture of a great listener any performer in the world would love to get in an audience, They listen first and clap afterwards, then in every show there is a session where they have to let you know what they felt about every song you performed and ask you some questions, it is more of sharing with them that just perform and go.
This tour has and still adding a lot to my global audience because first of all I had the experience of performing to a new audience, on a new continent and country, a different society for me to perform for.
It just taught me a big lesson about the music we do, for it doesn’t take to sing in a certain language for your music to be heard by the world, it simply takes to have some relevant content in what we sing because to my experience here in Japan, I see people in the audience crying while I am singing songs in Kinyarwanda! That is mind changing to me.
My next performance of the tour will be on 7th of July.
The village is home to 240 households relocated from high risk zones around Kigali. It comprises living apartments, a secondary school, and an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD).
It is connected with water and electricity; equipped with decent roads, waste treatment system and kitchen backyards, chicken abode with the capacity to accommodate over 9000 chicks.
Karama Model Village was built in collaboration with Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Reserve Force within a period of six months. It is part of the activities lined up for the 25th anniversary of the National Liberation Day.
Following the inauguration of Karama Model Village, President Kagame interacted with thousands of residents from across Kigali city.
President Kagame thanked all people present at the event leading to the Liberation Day and requested beneficiaries to take care of new infrastructure.
“This model village shows that Liberation is not simply about words, it is about action. It is an example of what we can accomplish and that we can do a lot more. You must each play your role; beginning with taking care of the home you were given,” he said.
Kagame reminded residents that liberation should not be taken as a privilege for particular people highlighting that ‘liberation means believing that a good life is not a right only reserved for others, every Rwandan deserves it’.
He explained that the current phase of the liberation struggle is about achieving transformation and ‘being the Rwandans and Africans we should be’.
“For those who believe in God, do you believe that Rwanda and Africa was created to be poor and always begging, and another part of the world was created to be prosperous? That is not part of my beliefs. My belief is that within me, I have the ability and the right to live as well as anyone deserves anywhere in the world,” he said.
“Let us continue to remember the meaning of Liberation as well as those who were involved, both those who are with us today and those who lost their lives,” added the President.
The statement says that petrol price in Kigali should not go beyond Rwf 1080 per liter while diesel price should not exceed Rwf 1072 per liter.
This means, Petrol and Diesel prices have respectively reduced by Rwf 16 and Rwf 11.
Lt Col Patrick Nyirishema, the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has said that changes in price resulted from the change of petroleum products prices globally.
New prices are set to go into effect from 4th July 2019.
The two children belonging to Ngabonziza Norbert and Bantegeye Kayitesi died yesterday night as candle flames caught and burnt mattresses and mosquito net spreading to the entire house and burnt to ashes all equipment inside.
Police spokesperson in Kigali city, CIP Umutesi Marie Gorette has told IGIHE that the house was burnt by a candle lit by 18 year old girl who lived with the children. The fire gut the house as the girl went to buy another candle as they had no electricity.
“It is true that two children died. Their parents were not present and had left the children to 18 years old girl. She lit a candle and went to buy another. The lady found the house burning as she returned back,” she said.
CIP Umutesi explained that Police fire brigade intervened to extinguish the fire but found the children already dead.
“The girl is a relative and the fire was not intentional. It is however a result of carelessness related to leaving the candle burning and returning late,” he said.
CIP Umutesi appealed citizens against leaving flammables burning because it poses incendiary risks.
The bodies were taken to Kacyiru district hospital for postmortem.
The president expressed Rwanda’s readiness yesterday at the Parliament during an interactive discussion with young African Social Media influencers and journalists ahead of the 25th Liberation Day #Kwibohora25.
Kagame was responding to journalists’ question to give his views on Tshisekedi ambition to collaborate with neighboring countries to fight the rebels. President Kagame welcomed the initiative.
“For the part of Congo and what the President of Congo said, we will join. We have been waiting and I am glad that we have a person there saying he wants to work with neighbors to get rid of this problem. Because it has been there for too long and it affects Congo, neighbors and all of us,” said Kagame.
“There is no point in sitting with that problem or allowing that problem to stand in the way of the progress we should be making. I am really happy that it is the way the president of Congo is going on, thinking about it,” he added.
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has recently announced that the matter of armed groups based in DRC is being discussed by MONUSCO and concerned neighboring countries.
He revealed this as he addressed citizens on Sunday where he highlighted that the problem of insecurity in DRC originates from armed groups from other countries.
The revelation was made at a time when the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have been launching attacks to disarm armed groups based in Eastern part of the country particularly in Ituri Province which destabilized rebels like ‘P5’ comprised of united armed groups led by Kayumba Nyamwasa among others.
These attacks dubbed ‘Tempête de l’Ituri’ began on 21st June 2019 to defeat armed groups in different parts of DRC forests where they kill, persecute, rob and rape citizens.
In his previous visit to DRC, President Kagame; Rwanda, RDC and Angola have signed tri-partite agreements establishing a joint platform for the three countries to enhance cooperation in the area of security particularly aimed at uprooting all non-state armed groups and end threats to state security and economic cooperation.
DRC forests are home to Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) for over 20 years.
Towards the end of 2018, Rwanda’s prosecution issued arrest warrant for Kayumba Nyamwasa and other ring leaders of rebel groups known as P5 or RNC organizing their activities in DRC forests to threaten Rwanda’s security.
The threat of non-state armed groups in the Great Lakes region remains active, with DRC’s forests still hosting both Congolese and foreign terrorist groups that threaten state and regional security.
The groups include Rwandan terrorist group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which is comprised of remnants of the genocidal forces that killed more than a million Rwandans during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Through collaboration with FARDC, the national army of the Democratic Republic of Congo, some FDLR commanders including Laforge Fils Bazeye, FDLR spokesperson and chief spy Lieutenant-Colonel Abega have been arrested and sent back to Rwanda to face justice.
Heads of States who have already confirmed include the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé; Namibia President Hage Geingob and his wife; the President of Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra; the President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed; Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa; Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his wife as well as the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.
It will also be graced by Nigeria Vice President , Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs in Uganda, Dr. Ali Kirunda Kivenjija among other Foreign Affairs Ministers from Africa.
Rwanda will be marking 25 years after RPF Inkotanyi soldiers liberated the country from bad leadership which had deprived hundreds of Rwandans of their rights leading some of them to fleeing the country and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Apart from dethroning bad leadership, the liberation struggle also stopped genocide.
25 years after liberation, Rwanda has made tremendous progress along the resilience journey and has earned international repute from wounds of genocide to become a role model with good leadership under the championship of President Paul Kagame.
Over the 25 years journey, new infrastructures were set up, roads were constructed and expanded electricity to rural areas among other activities promoting social wellbeing and economic transformation.
Different activities are were held in preparation of Kwibohora25 including sessions explaining history of the liberation struggle that started in 1990 paving the way for inclusive development of the country.
He made the call yesterday as he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of seven prosecutors who were reappointed by the Cabinet Meeting of April 3rd, 2019.
Sworn-in prosecutors include: Mrs. Marie Josée UMUTANGUHA and Mr. GAFISHI RUKEMA Sammy, Prosecutors at Intermediate level; Mr. Maximilien NZEYIMANA and Mrs. Jeannine NIYONKURU, Prosecutors at Primary level.
In this ceremony, the Premier also received the oath of three contractual prosecutors namely: Mr. Marcel NIYONSHUTI, Mr. Léonard NDOLIMANA, as well as Mr. David NZAYISENGA.
Premier Ngirente wished them all the best in their duties and urged them to diligently fulfill their responsibilities by impartially respecting the human rights.
He also reminded them some key values that must characterize every prosecutor. In this regard, he encouraged them to be honest and work professionally so as to effectively accomplish their responsibilities, avoid favoritism or nepotism; fight corruption, closely work with their professional peers, strive for better service delivery and embrace the use of ICT in their daily duties.
Ngirente further requested the Prosecution Authority to focus more on cases that affect both the national interests and of the Rwandan society at large. Among the cases that deserve particular attention, he highlighted crimes that ruin the national economy, cross border crimes, human trafficking crimes, cybercrimes and theft.
Ngirente also reiterated that he believes that sworn-in prosecutors will diligently fulfill their responsibilities and collaborate with their peers by always striving to uphold the values of a good prosecutor.
The arrest of the suspect that took place on Monday is part of the Police crackdown on automobiles and drivers using forged traffic related documents.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region said that Police mounted a checkpoint and they first apprehended the owner of the Fuso truck plate number RAD 850G, who was driving it at the time.
The Fuso truck loaded with charcoal bags was at the time headed to Kigali from Nyamagabe District.
“The mechanical certificate for the Fuso indicated that it would expire on August 23, 2019, when officers checked with a Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) device they found that it expired on June 12, 2019, the person (owner) who was driving it at the time was held, but it later came to light that his driver (Habineza) was behind the forgery. Habineza was later traced and brought into custody,” CIP Karekezi explained.
The HHT is a cashless system and part of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Information Management System. Penalized traffic offenders can pay using smart cards, VISA or telecom banking systems and can check the authenticity of vehicle mechanical certificate and driver’s license.
“Operations are continuous, and with the HHT, anyone holding forged traffic-related documents will be brought to book,” CIP Karekezi said.
This company has announced that the reduction is in honour of Rwanda’s celebrations of 25 years of liberation observed on 4th July and valid until 8th July 2019.
Any traveler, either Rwandan or foreigner buying tickets from Kigali or that are destined to Kigali will enjoy the reduced charges.
Brussels Airlines whose parent organization is Lufthansa Group makes five flights per week from Kigali.
Brussels Airlines is the flag carrier and largest airline of Belgium, based and headquartered at Brussels Airport. It has over 120 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
In February 2017, Brussels Airlines and RwandAir signed partnership agreements that include cooperation in marketing and in technical matters, including synchronization of schedules.
Kagame made the observation Tuesday afternoon at the Parliament where he held an interactive discussion with young African Social Media influencers and journalists ahead of the 25th Liberation Day #Kwibohora25.
Commenting on the secret to Rwanda’s progress, Kagame said the secret lies in knowing that ‘whatever you get will be on the basis of your efforts combined with others effort’.
He stressed that the country has always tried to balance resources and what it can do with those resources whereby domestic revenues have been rising very fast while the country has gotten money and assistance in terms of development assistance.
“Everything has been in an upward trend. I think so far so good. The challenge we have is that of the flow of resources. We get resources, but it’s always never enough as you always need more to do even more to consolidate the gains we have made,” said Kagame.
“I don’t think we have made enough progress. We have to keep doing more and better. There should never be a point where we feel like we have arrived. Keep going, even when you are doing well, always be worried about something: either of doing more or be worried that what you have achieved can slide back. That’s our philosophy. It’s a daily thing,” he added.
Kagame talked on the rationale for launching the liberation war in 1990 originating from injustices where hundreds of Rwandans were being denied their rights, those living outside and those inside living under harsh conditions.
“After the war we started rebuilding. We had to call upon everybody’s contribution. Rwandans from outside and those inside were able to move together and get us where we are now. In Rwanda we never saw ourselves as an island. We are part of a much bigger family, the African continent. We are part of the EAC and a much wider continent as it is the best way to reconnect and tap into this relevancy of coming together through social, political and economic integration,” he said.
President Kagame said that along the 25 years journey, the country fought one war of liberation and later reached a phase of explaining everything done. It is in this context that Kagame stressed that doing the attention should be drawn on doing the right thing because some people keep thinking differently.
“Perception will always be there, you can’t avoid it. Mainly it portrays you the way you are not. Rwanda still suffers from that. There are people who still see us like we were 25 years ago. Don’t be discouraged by perception. Just be educated by it. You need to work hard to change your perception; you can’t bribe your way through. Keep doing your best,” said Kagame.
He went on to say that ‘before you even convince anybody outside, convince your own people, and make sure they are with you. Make sure they are involved, they are benefitting. It is built on tangible things. People themselves will start disproving the wrong perceptions’.
President Kagame also advised the youth to be confident and make the right contribution.
He said Sacrifice may get to some point that worries people but highlighted that there is always a contribution to make to oneself and country through participation.
“Your sacrifice should be not to jump too fast to what you think is the easiest path for yourself. How do you contribute to changing the things that affect you, when you don’t expect that somebody else is coming to fix it for you?” Kagame advised.
